Cedrick Desjardins makes 29 saves, leads Bulldogs over IceCaps 2-1

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Cedrick Desjardins made 29 saves to backstop the Hamilton Bulldogs to a 2-1 victory over the St. John's IceCaps in American Hockey League action Wednesday night.

Carl Klingberg opened the scoring for the IceCaps (8-8-0) in the first period.

The Bulldogs (6-7-2) managed only two shots on goal in the opening period, and didn't get their third shot until Michael Blunden tied the game at 12:39 of the second period.

Steve Quailer scored the winner for Hamilton with his third goal of the season at 19:36 of the second period.

St. John's controlled the tempo of the game early, although it took a beautiful solo effort from Klingberg to get them on the board at 19:51. Klingberg took a feed from Ben Maxwell before dangling through Hamilton's zone and sending a wrist shot past Desjardins.

Hamilton began to pour the pressure on and managed to even up the shot total, as both teams finished two periods with 17 shots apiece.

The Bulldogs were rewarded for their pressure when they tied the game with a three-on-one rush.

Derek Meech was the last defender back after his defence partner pinched to try and salvage a puck in the offensive zone. Brendan Gallagher sent a cross-crease pass around a sprawling Meech, which Blunden easily finished.

Quailer benefited from a fortunate bounce off the boards behind IceCaps goalie Mark Dekanich, which he banged home from the door step for the winner.

The IceCaps pressed hard in the closing seven minutes of the third period, putting up a lot of shots, but Desjardins came up big for the Bulldogs.